The drama ‘Fjord’ won the Golden Palm at the 79th Cannes Film Festival on Saturday evening, as reported by the Süddeutsche Zeitung. The film tells the story of a deeply religious family whose children are taken away by child protective services – a story that divided audiences and convinced the jury.
German actress Sandra Hüller, who was in competition with two films, left empty-handed at the awards ceremony. Instead, another German filmmaker took a prize: director and Aurore Marechal received one of the supporting actor awards for her contribution.
‘Fjord’ is a ‘provocation in the best sense,’ writes the Süddeutsche Zeitung. The film dispenses with conventional narrative patterns and instead relies on a dense, oppressive atmosphere. The jury, chaired by French director Claire Denis, awarded the work as the best film of the competition.
Hüller was in the running with two productions: the drama ‘Vaterland’ about Thomas Mann’s journey through bombed-out post-war Germany and the road movie ‘Fjord.’ While ‘Vaterland’ was praised for its portrayal of the question of home, the hoped-for prize for the actress did not materialize.
The Golden Palm for ‘Fjord’ marks a surprise: the film was not considered a favorite, but rather a difficult entry in a competition dominated by political and social themes. Observers compared the festival’s program to that of the Berlinale – a dig at the often less glamorous rival.
EuroPulse reported on May 23, 2026, about the influence of the Ukraine war on the film festival: Cannes 2026: Ukraine War Shapes Film Festival.
Source: www.sueddeutsche.de
